Strange Handling Comments Please

[TVR Gary 0]

Just been for a spirited run in the 205 and its behaving strangely.

 

Please bear in mind that my rear shocks are knackered and ready to be changed (new ones upstairs)

 

Ok so taking a local roundabout which is about 1/3 of a mile round, yep its a biggun. The car normally lets me know whats going on. If I push hard I can feel the front start to push, scrabble for grip and hear the tyres (understeer). Today while taking the same roundabout the front felt very precise, pointy even. It was the rear which was the first to show signs of playing up with a little oversteer.

 

The only real difference to the car is the addtion of polyflex bushes to the front wishbones.

 

I'm not sure whether the bushes are allowing me to take the corners at a higher speed, without understeer and therefore provoking oversteer?

 

The rear of the car also feels slightly wallowy, again not sure if that just because the front is now stiffer.......

 

Now I know I need new rear shocks BUT in fairness they have probably been in the condition they are now for quite some time.....

 

The only worry I have is that of rear beam issues? ..... No idea how to tell that one though?

 

Hard one to answer, but something has changed......

 

 

Gary

[Butler 0]

The rear of the car also feels slightly wallowy, again not sure if that just because the front is now stiffer.......

 

Thats would make sense.

The front isn't stiffer as such, but the bushes have less flex, so less geometry change. Perhaps the standard bushes were allowing the wishbones to move and loosing you some toe out or something.

 

How old is the beam and its mounts?

[Jonmurgie 2]

Agree with what Butler has said... if the beam is still original then you should budget for a rebuild and some uprated mounts (check out the BBM website for those: http://www.bakerbm.com/).

[TVR Gary 0]

I have no idea when the beam was last looked at, it doesnt sag, it doesn't make funny noises and up untill the bushes were changed it handled well.

 

I think its probably the shocks, well thats what im hoping as the car goes back to Germnay for 8 months next weekend.

 

Will let you know how she is later in the week.

 

Gary

[pug_ham 245 3 Cars]

Check the rear beam sandwich mounts as when they split it can make it feel just like this imo.

 

I had one gone & thought I had fitted a beam with a bent stub axle but when I took the beam off I found one of them split.

 

A split one doesn't allow much extra movement but enough to make it feel nervous & as if the back end is really trying to overtake the front far more than usual.

 

Graham.

[TVR Gary 0]

Absolute pig of a job changing the shocks was. First one the bolt was welded in place so had to heat it up to get it out..... Pretty much set light to the back of the car in the process... Second one the new shock would not go into position, loads of swearing, loads of shouting and a broken pair of pliers (hit tool box 20 yards away at 200mph Still they are in now, the car looks like its on stilts but it feels much better.

 

Might have changed the handling a little, so might take a bit of getting used to on-track.

 

Cheers for the comments

 

Gary

[Rob_the_Sparky 10]

Just for info, just because the rear beam isn't showing bad signs doesn't mean it isn't worn. Leaving it until it clunks or shows cmaber will mean a much more expensive bill when you do have it done.

 

If you get a chance it would be worth getting it done.

 

Rob

[pug_ham 245 3 Cars]

I'd like to echo what Rob says, its far better (& cheaper) to replace the seals & bearings on your beam before they start to show signs of being worn out.

 

A days work to replace everything really & then you have a servicable beam for at least another five years.

 

Graham.